When I’m in the Journalism Building at Ohio State University I am often reminded that I am roaming the same hallways that Phil Ochs did back in the year that I was born (although the building was renovated in 1973, so they aren’t exactly the same hallways). Phil Ochs will always be my Ohio State hero.
Ochs studied journalism in college and formed a keen interest in politics, signing on with the student newspaper, the Lantern, as a student reporter (1959-1962). While there he contributed some interesting editorials on the Cold War events of the day. But when the student paper refused to publish some of his more radical articles, and then passed him over for the editor-in-chief job, he dropped out in his last quarter and moved to New York City in 1962.
While at OSU he developed a liking for the folk music of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, the Weavers and the mythical IWW union leader Joe Hill, among others. Inspired by this music, he learned the guitar and formed a duo called the Sundowners. His first gig was at the legendary campus bar named Larry’s, right next door to where I tended bar for a few years in my college days. I spent many nights that I don’t remember at Larry’s, as I am sure Phil probably did too.
In Greenwich Village he emerged as one of the most influential folk singers of the sixties. He had a good friendship, and also an artistic rivalry, with Bob Dylan. Suze Rotolo, Dylan’s girlfriend at the time (seen on the cover of The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan), attended his wedding. He performed at the 1963 and 1964 Newport Folk Festivals to thunderous applause and great reviews. He appeared at Carnegie Hall and became a mainstay at many of the most famous civil rights rallies and anti-war demonstrations of the time. He was involved in the creation of the Youth International Party, known as the Yippies, along with Jerry Rubin and Abbie Hoffman.
But, like many of his contemporaries, the moment of change came with Dylan’s famous electric performance at Newport in 1965, one of the most important dates in 20th century American music. Ochs was unable, or unwilling, to make the leap to the new sound and his star began to slowly fade. These days he is hardly remembered. Sadly, even OSU remains ambivalent/silent about his legacy.
Here he is in 1965, young, vibrant and rebellious, on Let’s Sing Out, just a few months after the first ground troops landed in Vietnam. Note: if you watch to the end you’ll see a filler clip of him playing on the Oval at OSU in front of Orton Hall, the oldest building on campus and one that I help manage.
Michael Ochs, Phil’s younger brother, is an American photographic archivist best known for his extensive collection of pictures related to rock music dating back to the 1950s and 1960s. The Michael Ochs Archives contained 3 million vintage prints, proof sheets and negatives. The Los Angeles Times called Ochs “America’s preeminent rock ‘n’ roll photo archivist” and described his archive as “the dominant force in the rock image marketplace”; The New York Times called it “the premier source of musician photography in the world”. (Wikipedia)
Michael Ochs earned a B.A. in radio and television writing from Ohio State University in 1966. He then managed for his folk singer brother, worked as a photographer for Columbia Records, and later headed the public relations departments at Columbia Records, Shelter Records and ABC Records. He began collecting photographs as a hobby and spent years building the collection, ultimately establishing The Michael Ochs Archives in 1977. In the eighties he hosted his Archives Alive radio show on KCRW.
From his collection, he has produced six books: Rock Archives; Elvis In Hollywood; Marilyn: March, 1955; Shock, Rattle & Roll; Marilyn Monroe: From Beginning To End; and 1,000 Record Covers. He was one of three producers of the 2010 documentary film Phil Ochs: There but for Fortune.
In 2007, Getty Images purchased the Michael Ochs Archives.
Michael Ochs Archive Getty Images
https://entergallery.com/blogs/news/enter-gallery-presents-the-michael-ochs-archive
Parallel Narratives 
A wonderful tribute to a songwriter who left us so many memorable songs- protest songs, love songs, or just songs about life changes (like “Changes”). The documentary film was heartbreaking. I choose to remember him at his best. Thanks, Ron.